I realized that I’ve never done a post about my Four Splendid Truths, although I think about them all the time.

I named these realizations the “Four Splendid Truths” because I was reading a lot about Buddhism when I started to come up with the list.

I get a tremendous kick out of the numbered lists that pop up throughout Buddhism: the Triple Refuge, the Noble Eightfold Path, the Four Noble Truths, the eight auspicious symbols: parasol, golden fish, treasure vase, lotus, conch shell, endless knot, victory banner, and dharma wheel. (After I formulated the First Splendid Truth, I just had to assume that I’d end up with more than one.)

Each one of these truths sounds fairly obvious and straightforward, but each was the product of tremendous thought. Take the Second Splendid Truth – it’s hard to exaggerate the clarity I gained when I managed to identify it. Here they are:

First Splendid TruthTo be happier, you have to think about feeling good, feeling bad, and feeling right, in an atmosphere of growth.

Second Splendid TruthOne of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy;
One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself.

Fourth Splendid TruthYou’re not happy unless you think you’re happy.
corollary: You’re happy if you think you’re happy.
[Many argue the opposite case. John Stuart Mill, for example, wrote, “Ask yourself whether you are happy, and you cease to be so.” I disagree.]

Now I’m trying to come up with my personal eight auspicious symbols for happiness. Let’s see — bluebird, ruby slippers, dice, blood, roses…hmmm. I will have to keep thinking about that.

Other posts you might be interested in . . .

Other posts you might be interested in . . .

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Sarah D

I really like your 4th splendid truth. This might sound crazy but I didn’t ever necessarily think of myself as unhappy until someone I was in a relationship TOLD me I was. That was enlightening and annoying at the same time and it wasn’t very helpful either, it just made me unhappy and aware of it! I think he mistook my genrally flat affect as unhappiness. Who knows but I am now committed to my own happiness and not his! I really enjoyed your book.

Michael Humphries

Gotta love this!!! Zig Zigler “Success & Happiness are not matters of Chance but Choice”. Make the choice every day to be happy & successful. “IT’S ALL GOOD” Michael http://www.facebook.com/mhitsallgood

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Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin
is one of the most thought-provoking and influential writers on habits and happiness. Her next book, Better than Before, is about how we change our habits. Her books The Happiness Project and Happier at Home were both instant New York Times bestsellers, and The Happiness Project spent more than two years on the bestseller list, including at #1. Her books have sold more than two million copies, in 30 languages. Here, she writes about her adventures as she test-drives ideas from contemporary science and ancient wisdom about building good habits and a happier life.

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